High Court orders a rolled-up judicial review hearing over election postponement powers
The High Court has ordered that a judicial review brought by Reform UK Party Limited against the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government will proceed to a full “rolled-up” hearing next month.
In an order made on 20 January 2026, Mr Justice Chamberlain adjourned Reform UK’s application for permission to apply for judicial review so that it can be considered together with the substantive claim by a Divisional Court on 19 February 2026. The hearing is listed with a time estimate of two days, and, if permission is granted, the court will move immediately to determine the claim.
The challenge concerns the Secretary of State’s potential use of statutory powers under section 87(1) of the Local Government Act 2000, which relate to the postponement of local elections. Reform UK filed its claim for judicial review, together with an application for interim relief, on 16 January 2026.
At a hearing held at midday on 20 January, leading counsel for Reform UK and counsel for the Secretary of State addressed the court. During the hearing, Reform UK’s counsel indicated that the application for interim relief was no longer being pursued, in light of the directions given by the court. The judge recorded that position in the order.
The court imposed a detailed timetable aimed at ensuring that all interested parties are informed and able to participate. Reform UK was ordered to send, by 4pm on 21 January 2026, the updated claim bundle and the court’s order to 63 local councils whose elections are under consideration for postponement. Those councils are listed in an annex to a letter sent on 18 December 2025 by the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness.
The Secretary of State must, by 4pm on 29 January 2026, serve reasons for any decision taken in respect of exercising the relevant statutory power. Any local authority seeking to be joined as an interested party, or to intervene in the proceedings, must apply by 4pm on 30 January 2026.
Reform UK has been given until 4pm on 2 February 2026 to file and serve any amended Statement of Facts and Grounds. The court made clear that any amendments must be strictly confined to the existing grounds of review. The Secretary of State must then file grounds of defence and supporting evidence by 4pm on 16 February 2026.
The court directed that the statements of facts and grounds, and the grounds of defence, may stand as skeleton arguments for the rolled-up hearing. Any separate skeleton arguments must be filed by noon on 18 February 2026, with an agreed bundle of authorities to be filed by 4pm the same day. Costs were reserved.